Dr. Margarita Stancheva

Dr. Margarita Stancheva has more than 20 years` professional experience with special interests in coastal geomorphology: coastal processes, sand beaches/dunes, coastal erosion/cliff retreat and shoreline changes, and recently in Maritime Spatial Planning and sustainable coastal development.

Previously she worked as senior research assistant at the Institute of Oceanology – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IO-BAS). She holds a Ph.D. in Oceanology in 2009 with thesis: “Beach dynamics and modifications under impact of port and coast-protection structures”. In 2010-2012 she coordinated two research projects in collaboration with Institute of Ecology, Tallinn University (Estonian Academy of Sciences) and National Research and Development Institute for Marine Geology and Geoecology, Romania, focused on sand dunes preservation and coastline risk classification. In 2011 – 2013 she coordinated the EU funded SYMNET Project under JOP “Black Sea Basin 2007-2013” (http://www.projectsymnet.eu/). She was coordinator for IO-BAS of the first pilot MSP MARSPLAN-BS Project, funded by European Commission, DG MARE (http://www.marsplan.ro). Margarita has been convener of Geomorphology Session at the EGU General Assembly: ”Coastal zone geomorphologic interactions: natural versus human-induced driving factors” since 2009 until present http://www.egu.eu/. She is Research Fellow to the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines (PSDS), Western Carolina University – USA and in 2013 coordinated a joint BG-USA Fulbright project focused on coastal processes and management of the Bulgarian coast (http://www.psds-wcu.org/). Since 2017 Margarita is Secretary of the Commission on Coastal Systems (CCS) to the International Geographic Union (IGU) - http://www.igu-ccs.org/ and Editor of the CCS Newsletter. Author and co-author of more than 50 publications in scientific journals, conference proceedings, books and technical reports.

Coastal and Marine Knowledge and Research

I hold MSc in Applied Geophysics and Oceanology in 1996 from Naval Academy in Varna, Bulgaria and a Ph.D. in Oceanology in 2009 at Institute of Oceanology – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IO-BAS). I have ten years of post-doctoral research with strong written and oral communication skills, including peer-reviewed papers and invited talks at many large international events.

Since 1996 I have made research in the scope of coastal and marine geomorphology: modern coastal processes, beach/shoreline changes; cliff erosion/retreat; coastal sand dunes/protected territories; GIS application to shoreline detection and coastline classification; human structures impact; bathymetry mapping, coastal and marine tourism, natural/human-induced coastal hazards and risks; and recently in the field of sustainable coastal development and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP).

During 2003-2007 I wrote a PhD thesis with title: “Beach dynamics and modifications under impact of port and coast-protection structures”, addressing the subject of beach changes and coastal erosion, as well as the ICZM issues in Bulgaria and sustainable coastal development. I am author of a chapter for Bulgaria in a book on “Coastal Erosion and Protection in Europe - A Comprehensive Overview” and co-author in a Coastal Atlas on Sensitivity Mapping and Analysis of the Bulgarian Black Sea Coastal Zone.

During my work since 1996 I have provided research and project contributions to consider the issues of ICZM in Bulgaria. This has included:

Participation at the Advanced International Training Programme “Sustainable Coastal Development, COAST-2005”, organized by Swedish International Development Agency’s (SIDA) during September 12 – October 14, 2005 in Sweden.

Research in the field of ICZM theme: several scientific papers on ICZM efforts in Bulgaria, few additional peer-reviewed papers addressing the issues of ICZM and coastal erosion in Bulgaria and Black Sea, given numerous oral presentations on the subject of ICZM (for example in 2008 at the 1st PoCoast Seminar on Coastal Research in Porto, Portugal, at the CIESM International Conference on East - West Cooperation in Marine Science, in Sochi, Russia in 2014, at the MEDCOAST Jubilee Workshop in 2015, Dalaman, Turkey, etc.).

Project Experience and Outreach Activities

I have extensive experience in coordination and management of successful research and large international projects, such as EU funded SYMNET Project (Industrial Symbiosis Network for Environment Protection and Sustainable Development in Black Sea Basin) under JOP “Black Sea Basin 2007-2013” (http://www.projectsymnet.eu/), two research projects in collaboration with Institute of Ecology, Tallinn University (Estonian Academy of Sciences) and National Research and Development Institute for Marine Geology and Geoecology (GeoEcoMar), Romania, focused on sand dunes preservation and coastline risk classification. Since 2012, I am Research Fellow to the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines (PSDS), Western Carolina University – USA (http://www.psds-wcu.org/) and in 2013 coordinated a joint BG-USA Fulbright project focused on coastal processes and management of the Bulgarian coast.

During 2015-2018 I was project coordinator for IO-BAS of the EU MARSPLAN-BS Project (co-funded by DG MARE), the first pilot project for the implementation of the Directive 2014/89/EU for Maritime Spatial Planning in the Black Sea. During my work I have provided a couple of scientific, research and technical contributions to project activities for Bulgaria: elaboration of detailed studies for a complete analysis of the Romanian and Bulgarian marine areas; responsible for case study Burgas land-sea interactions; reviewing the institutional and legislative framework relevant for the Black Sea maritime spatial planning in Romania and Bulgaria; common strategic framework for maritime spatial planning in Romania and Bulgaria; elaboration of a maritime spatial plan for the cross-border area (Mangalia – Shabla); defining the indicators to be monitored and monitoring procedures; elaboration of lessons learned and practical recommendations for improving the MSP process. I was the primary author of the Case Study Burgas: Land-Sea Interactions (published as a book) specifically focused to follow the land-sea interactions and to identify the interactions, conflicts and impacts between uses, sectors and environment both terrestrial and marine using the synergy/conflict land-sea interaction matrix. The electronic version of the study is uploaded on the website of the European MSP Platform (http://msp-platform.eu/practices/case-study-burgas-land-sea-interactions).

In 2014 I was involved as an expert to the Intersessional Working Group (IOC-UNESCO) for review and improvement of the Global Ocean Science Report (GOSR).

Since 2009 until now I have been convener and chair of a Geomorphology Session at the European Geoscience Union General Assembly: ”Coastal zone geomorphologic interactions: natural versus human-induced driving factors” (http://www.egu.eu/).

Since 2017 I have taken the role of Secretary of the Commission on Coastal Systems (CCS) to the International Geographic Union (IGU) - http://www.igu-ccs.org/ and Editor of the CCS Newsletter. The focus of CCS attention is on interactive systems, both human and physical, and the areas of inquiry include issues such as sea-level rise, land-use changes, estuarine resources, coastal tourism and shoreline development, coastal recreation, and coastal zone management.

Coastal processes and sustainable development of the Bulgarian coast. Joint Research Project Fulbright Program 2012/ 2013 – Prof. Robert Young, Programme for the Study of Developed Shorelines (PSDS), Western Caroline University, USA (http://www.psds-wcu.org/).

Coastal sand dunes along the Estonian and Bulgarian Black Sea shorelines: inventory and natural/human-induced changes - joint research project between Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Estonian Academy of Sciences (2010-2012).

Joint GIS-based coastal classification of the Bulgarian-Romanian Black Sea shoreline for risk assessment. Joint research project between Bulgaria and Romania, (Institute of Oceanology - BAS and National Research and Development Institute for Marine Geology and Geoecology), National Science Fund, (2010-2012), Grant Nо: DNTS 02/11.

Comparison of coastal processes and monitoring activities between some Bulgarian and Spanish beaches – joint research project between Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Spanish Academy of Sciences (CSIC), (2006-2008).

Field Work

I have extensive experience in marine and coastal data processing and analysis, as main author or in a team, which includes:

Shoreline/cliff mapping, coastline classification (identifying natural and human landforms) and processing of data from different sources: large and small topographical maps, nautical maps, geological maps, high resolution ortophoto and satellite images.

Environmental Sensitivity Mapping (ESM) of the Bulgarian Black Sea coastal zone under a contract with TOTAL E&P Bulgaria B.V. oil and gas exploration operations. The mapping of the sensitivity of the environment to accidental oil pollution is an essential step in oil pollution preparedness, response and co-operation efforts, and maps are a crucial tool to assist responders during an incident. The produced ESM is consistent with protocols outlined in the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association/International Maritime Organization (IPIECA/IMO) document “Sensitivity Mapping for Oil Spill Response” (IPIECA 2011).

Experience in ArcGIS Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS). The software computes the rate of shoreline change using historical shoreline positions represented in a GIS. The software can also be used to compute rates of change for other boundary change issues that incorporate a clearly identified feature position at discrete times, analyze shoreline change using a GIS, calculate rate-of-change statistics from multiple shoreline positions etc.

Work as expert in EMODNET Black Sea checkpoint, WP Bathymetry. I worked in a team to produce the Black Sea and Azov Sea coastlines by digitalization of 14.25 m panchromatic LandSat 7 ETM+ satellite images, and a contour bathymetry map for the Black Sea Basin with intervals of 100 meters. Another work was to identify and indicate priority areas for safer navigation taking into account emerging needs and map of uncertainty in water depth for the Black Sea Basin.

Coastal processes and sustainable development of the Bulgarian coast. Joint Research Project Fulbright Program 2012/ 2013 – Prof. Robert Young, Programme for the Study of Developed Shorelines (PSDS), Western Caroline University, USA (http://www.psds-wcu.org/).

Coastal sand dunes along the Estonian and Bulgarian Black Sea shorelines: inventory and natural/human-induced changes - joint research project between Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Estonian Academy of Sciences (2010-2012).

Joint GIS-based coastal classification of the Bulgarian-Romanian Black Sea shoreline for risk assessment. Joint research project between Bulgaria and Romania, (Institute of Oceanology - BAS and National Research and Development Institute for Marine Geology and Geoecology), National Science Fund, (2010-2012), Grant Nо: DNTS 02/11